Improve school success for students who have learning disabilities and ADHD with "Academic Clubs," the proven learning-by-doing approach presented in this energizing guidebook.

Sally Smith — the highly respected founder of the Lab Schools, where 95% of students with learning problems go on to college — shows elementary school educators how to immerse students in any subject using drama, painting, sculpture, music, and other art forms.

To help educators use this fun, multisensory teaching technique to motivate students, this handbook gives them:

an easy-to-follow 15-step process for establishing an Academic Club with minimal expense

information on how the clubs promote positive behavior and foster cooperation among students

detailed profiles of Academic Clubs, complete with suggested activities, decorations, character roles, and costume ideas

insightful interviews with teachers who have used the Academic Club Approach

chapters on using the approach in different settings, including junior high, high school, and summer programs

principles for effective group management

Sally Smith's infectious energy, humor, and creativity helps teachers transform their classrooms into clubs where each student belongs and learns.


About the Author

Sally L. Smith is the Founder/Executive Director of The Lab School of Washington, which she designed in 1967 for children and adults with learning disabilities. Since 1976, she has also been a Professor in the School of Education at American University in charge of the Master's Degree Program in Special Education: Learning Disabilities. Professor Smith is a national leader in the field of learning disabilities and is one of the elected specialists on the Professional Advisory Board of LDA and served for 6 years as an elected member of the Professional Advisory Board of the National Center for Learning Disabilities.